FRIDAY'S SCORES
Eastern Illinois 6, South Dakota State 1
@North Florida 6,
Eastern Illinois 2
Murray State 9, Butler 1
UT Martin 13, Akron 2 (5)
UT Martin 14, Alabama State 6 (6)
Morehead State 4, Buffalo 0
Iowa State 11,
@Tennesseee State 3
Alabama A&M 8,
@Tennessee State 6
Middle Tennessee 8,
Southeast Missouri 4
UT Arlington 5,
Southeast Missouri 1
@Auburn 8,
SIUE 1
SIUE 6, Evansville 1
Jacksonville State 14, Mississippi Valley State 7
Jacksonville State 4, Nicholls State 3
Kennesaw State 3,
Tennessee Tech 0
Tennessee Tech 7, @Chattanooga 6
Winthrop 5,
Eastern Kentucky 2
@College of Charleston 5,
Eastern Kentucky 1
EASTERN ILLINOIS 6, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 1; NORTH FLORIDA 6, EASTERN ILLINOIS 2
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Eastern Illinois softball team opened the North Florida Osprey Invitational Friday earning a 6-1 win over South Dakota State in their tournament opener before falling to hosts UNF 6-2 in their second game of the day.
Following the split EIU sits at 4-2 on the year.
Kayla Bear led the way for the Panthers finishing the day 5-for-8 at the plate with four runs scored, two RBIs, a double, and a home run.
The Panthers opened tournament play taking an early lead over South Dakota State as Kayla Bear blasted a lead-off solo home run in the first at-bat of the game to give EIU a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
The Jackrabbits eventually evened the score in the bottom of the second inning. After reaching first on a fielder's choice SDSU's Abbey Murphy advanced to second base as Erin Mullen struck out swinging but made it to first base off a wild pitch. Murphy came around to score on the next at-bat off a single to center field by Danielle Steffo to make it 1-1 at the end of the second inning.
EIU answered right back in the top of the third as Jennifer Ames was walked to open the inning. Bear hit a single to left field on the next at-bat with both runners advancing to scoring positions following a sacrifice bunt from Taylor Monahan. Another sacrifice hit gave EIU the lead as Ames was able to score from third off the sac fly to left field from Mia Davis. The Panthers added one more run before the inning was over thanks to an RBI single from Haley Mitchell to left field to score Bear from second and give EIU a 3-1 lead after three innings.
The Panthers added one more run in the fifth inning off some stellar base running. Bear opened the inning with a single to right center field eventually stealing second and third base. A sacrifice fly from Tori Johnson brought Bear in to score and extend EIU's lead to 4-1.
Bear was not finished there as she would add her second RBI of the game smacking a double to center field to score Kiley Pelker from second base in the top of the sixth inning. She would eventually score from second base on the next at-bat thanks to a single up the middle from Monahan to give EIU the 6-1 lead.
Bear finished the game 4-for-4 at the plate with four runs scored, two RBIs, a double, and a home run. Michelle Rogers improved to 3-0 on the year with the win going six innings and tying her career high with seven strikeouts.
In the second game of the day the Panthers took on the host Ospreys. UNF got on the board first in the top of the second inning after loading the bases off the first three batters. North Florida's Jen Valle hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score the runner from third and put UNF in front 1-0, but that would be all the Ospreys would get in the inning.
UNF's Kayla McGory added to their lead in the third inning with a lead-off solo home run to extend the Osprey lead to 2-0.
North Florida extended their lead yet again the following inning as Macayla Kelley was able to score from second base due to a fielding error that allowed Navia Penrod to reach first safely. The unearned run gave UNF a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning.
The Ospreys piled on three more runs in the top of the fifth as they put runners on the corners with no outs. A sacrifice bunt followed by a two-run home run from UNF's Ashley Niesman gave North Florida a 6-0 lead at the end of the fifth inning.
The Panthers finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning as EIU loaded the bases off the first three batters. Mady Poulter eventually stepped up to the plate smashing a double down the left field line to cut UNF's lead to 6-2.
That would be as close as EIU would get though as UNF's Logan Green went to the mound striking out three of the final five hitters of the game.
Jessica Wireman fell to 1-2 on the year earning the loss on the mound going five innings and throwing four strikeouts.
Monahan and Poulter led the team against North Florida going 2-for-3 at the plate as Monahan finished the day 4-for-6 overall.
EIU continues tournament play tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. against South Carolina State followed by Kansas at 12:30 p.m.
MURRAY STATE 9, BUTLER 1
MOBILE, Ala. - The Murray State softball team started play at the 2017 Mardi Gras Invitational with a win by taking down Butler, 9-1, in five innings Friday at Jaguar Field in Mobile, Alabama.
The Racers got things rolling in the first by loading up the bases with the first three batters. Murray State then jumped out to a 4-0 lead on RBI-singles from seniors Taylor Odom, Jocelynn Rodgers and Cayla Levins and an error by the Bulldogs.
With the bases still loaded, sophomore Brenna Finck stepped to the plate for the second time in the stanza and belted a ball down the left field line. Finck was tagged out at the plate trying to stretch the triple into a home run, but not before the bases cleared and Murray State extended its lead to 7-0.
In the fourth, Finck scored on another Bulldog error and Odom scored Kaylee Ranburger on a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 9-0. In the top of the fifth, Butler finally broke up senior Mason Robinson’s no-hit bid with a one-out single from Cheyenne Robinson and eventually scored on a bases loaded hit by pitch. However, in the next play the Racers turned a double play to end the inning and the game via the eight-run rule at 9-1 after 4.5 innings of play.
Finck led Murray State by going 2-for-2 in the game with two runs, three RBIs and a hit by pitch, while Levins was also 2-for-2 with a run and a RBI. Robinson moved to 4-0 on the season with the one-hit performance by allowing just one earned run with one walk and three strikeouts.
Murray State will return to play in Mobile Saturday with games against Jackson State at 9 a.m. and host South Alabama at 2 p.m.
UT MARTIN 13, AKRON 2; UT MARTIN 14 ALABAMA STATE 6
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team used its powerful bats to outscore its opponents 27-8 on the opening day of the Alabama State Black and Gold Classic picking up a pair of victories. The Skyhawks defeated Akron 13-2 in five innings before taking down tournament host Alabama State 14-6 in six innings.
The Skyhawks (6-0) remained unbeaten on the season after posting a staggering .492 team batting average, two home runs and 24 RBIs in just 11 innings on the day. The pair of victories also marked the Skyhawks second and third consecutive games in which the “mercy rule” has gone into effect, marking the first such streak in school history.
Senior Renate Meckl led the Skyhawks with six hits while the trio of Jessie Douglas, Savannah Dodson and Carly Gonzales each tallied four hits each. Junior Rachel Williams led the way with five RBIs on the day while Douglas and Jodie Duncan each drove in four. The Skyhawks also stole nine bases on the afternoon, led by three from Dodson. Meckl and Gonzales each tallied a pair while Williams and Alicia Hansen recorded one each.
Game One: UT Martin 13, Akron 2 (Fifth inning)
UT Martin wasted little time jumping out to a good advantage in the contest. Carly Gonzales would lead off the inning with a double to right center before advancing all the way to third on a passed ball. The Skyhawks would almost strand the speedster at the third before a two-out single up the middle by Renate Meckl would give the squad an early lead. With one runner still on base, Alli Fulcher would belt a two-run home run over the left field wall to give the Skyhawks a 3-0 run advantage in the top of the first.
The Skyhawks would add another run in the top of the second inning behind an opposite field double to right by Jessie Douglas. With yet another runner in scoring position, Savannah Dodson would lace a single up the middle to give the squad a four-run advantage.
The squad continued to put some space between themselves and Akron in the top of the third innings.
A leadoff single by Meckl would get the inning off to a hot start before quickly moving into scoring position by swiping second base. After a successful steal, Meckl would just trot home later in the inning as Jodie Duncan brought the pair around to score on a two-run homer to right field.
Akron would finally break into the scoring column in the bottom of the third. After being held to just one hit through the early innings, the Zips would get their scoring inning started with a single up the middle by Ashley Sims. With a runner on base, Taylor Kirian would turn on a first-pitch ball and launch a two-run homer to left field to cut the margin to 6-2 after three innings of play.
UT Martin would strike back by scoring in its fourth consecutive inning with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Dodson would work a pitcher’s count into a single before moving all the way to third by swiping a pair of stolen bases. Gonzales would also work the count to draw a full-count walk before swiping second to put a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs. With a prime scoring situation at hand, Rachel Williams would pull a two-run double into left center to give the Skyhawks an 8-2 advantage.
The Skyhawks would put the game away in the fifth inning with five more runs. Alicia Hansen would enter the game as a pinch runner following an error by the Zips before quickly making her presence known by swiping second base. A four-pitch walk by Kaitlyn Martin would put a pair of runners on before another RBI single Douglas plated a run. The bases would later become loaded before Williams notched a two-run single and another Akron error led to a pair of runs to balloon the lead out to 13-2, cutting the contest short after five innings.
Brooke Kennedy (3-0, 3.32 ERA) picked up her third win of the season after allowing just two runs in five innings of work against Akron. Kennedy notched her third complete game while striking out three and issuing no walks.
Game 2: UT Martin 14, Alabama State 6 (Six innings)
Alabama State charged out the gates with a strong inning as the team looked to defend its home field in the second game of the afternoon. A leadoff single would result in the runner traveling all the way to third base following an error before coming home to score on a RBI single up the middle by Perry Hindi to take an early lead. Looking to continue the big first inning, a home run by Kendall Core gave the home squad a quick three-run lead.
With the Skyhawks facing few deficits throughout the young season, the squad charged back with a huge second inning which featured 11 runs. UT Martin would get the scoring started with a RBI
single to center by Douglas to score both Gabby Zizzi and Aeron Smith on the play. Three consecutive base hits by the trio of Hansen, Gonzales and Dodson would also score three runs to eliminate the deficit. The Skyhawks would bat around before seeing Duncan lace a single up the middle to score a pair followed by back-to-back singles by Smith and Dodson to score runs. The inning would be capped off by a RBI single by Williams to score the inning’s 11th and final run.
The Lady Hornets looked to cut into the margin in both the third and fourth innings, scoring three runs between the two. Consecutive RBI triples by Core and Hailey Walker would plate a pair of runs in the third. An infield single in the fourth by Laura Aguilar scored the team’s final run.
The Skyhawks would ultimately put the game away with three runs down the stretch to force its third straight mercy rule. Douglas’s sacrifice bunt in the fifth scored Fulcher to make it 12-6. The squad would cap the day off with a pair of RBI singles by Meckl and Fulcher in the sixth to pick up a 14-6 victory.
Senior Alyssa Vanlandingham (1-0, 4.04 ERA) earned the start but lasted just 2.2 innings. Vanlandingham allowed five runs while striking out two and walking a pair. Freshman Samantha Scott (1-0, 1.62 ERA) picked up her first collegiate victory after allowing just one run over 3.1 innings of relief.
UT Martin will return to action with another pair of games on Saturday, Feb. 18 to cap off the team’s stay at the Alabama State Tournament. The Skyhawks will take on Fort Wayne at 11 a.m. before squaring off against Akron at 1:30 p.m.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 8, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 4; UT ARLINGTON 5, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1
HAMMOND, La. - Southeast Missouri (3-2) dropped a pair of games during the first day of the Lions Classic II Friday. The Redhawks lost to Middle Tennessee (5-1), 8-4, and UT Arlington (2-4), 5-1.
SEMO let a three-run lead get away in its loss to MTSU.
The Redhawks plated three runs on four hits, including a two-RBI single by Addison Barnouski to take a 3-0 advantage in the top of the first inning.
After scoring twice in the bottom of the second, MTSU tied things up at 3-3 with a solo home run by cleanup hitter Austyn Whaley in the third.
The Blue Raiders then pushed across five runs in a big sixth inning that proved to be the difference.
With two runners on, Keely McGee launched a three-run home run out of the bottom of MTSU's lineup. Whaley later delivered a two-out two-RBI single through the left side to put the Blue Raiders ahead, 8-3.
Freshman Rachel Anderson, this week's Ohio Valley Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week, led off the seventh inning with a solo home run to right field. The round-tripper marked Anderson's team-high second of the season.
Cori Jennings (3-1) went the distance en route to her third win for MTSU. Jennings struck out two and gave up four runs on nine hits in seven innings. She did not allow a walk, as well.
Barnouski (0-1) suffered the loss in relief. She replaced starter Alexis Estes and allowed four runs on four hits in 1.2 innings.
SEMO outhit MTSU, 9-8, with Anderson and Barnouski each going 2-for-4. Anderson also scored two of the Redhawks runs, while Barnouski added two RBIs.
Whaley went 2-for-3 with a run scored and three RBIs to lead the Blue Raiders.
MTSU handed SEMO its first loss of the young season.
In game two, Sarah Messex drove in Riley Hayes on a single to center to give the Redhawks a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning.
SEMO carried its one-run lead into the bottom of the sixth where UTA put up five runs to pull off its win.
Reagan Wright and Mallory Foster each contributed two-RBI hits to spur the late rally.
Sam Clakley allowed just one run on five hits and struck out four in her complete game performance.
Madeline Krumrey (1-1) took her first loss of the season. Krumrey worked five innings, giving up three runs, six hits and striking out two.
Messex went 2-for-3 to lead SEMO.
Krista Rude finished a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored and Foster followed with two hits to pace UTA.
SEMO resumes action against host Southeastern Louisiana Saturday.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 14, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 7, JACKSONVILLE STATE 4, NICHOLLS STATE 3
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Jacksonville State continued its hot start to the 2017 season on Friday, when the Gamecocks opened the Southern Miss Black & Gold Invitational with a pair of wins.
The Gamecocks (6-1) started the day by jumping on Mississippi Valley State and cruising to a 14-7 win and then handed Nicholls State a 4-3 defeat. The loss for NSU was just its second of the season in eight games, while Jax State improved its best start to a season since 2006, when it started 8-1.
The Gamecocks set the tone right off the bat, plating 10 first-inning runs and never looking back. Sophomore Anna Snider delivered the big blow of the inning with a grand slam to straightaway center, her first career home run. The blast for the White Plains native was one of two round trippers for JSU in the game.
Sophomore Amber Jones, a transfer from Troy and native of Etowah, also belted her first career homer in the win.
The Gamecocks racked up 14 hits in the win, with Snider, sophomore Anna Chisolm and freshman Aryan Williams each led the way with two hits apiece. Snider's four RBI were a team high, while Jones and Taylor Sloan added two.
Senior Taylor West earned the win, tossing a total of 5 1/3 scoreless innings that saw her hold the Delta Devilettes to just one hit. The Anniston native struck out eight and walked just one to improve to 3-0 on the season.
Monica Rivera was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs on four hits and a walk. She failed to record an out in the first before being chased from the circle.
In the second game of the day, Jamie McGuire provided most of the offensive pop, plating the first run on a sac bunt and then breaking a late 2-2 tie with a two-run homer.
The Gamecocks grabbed two first-inning runs on a fielding error and a Jamie McGuire sac bunt. Whitney Gillespie held the Colonels in check until the fifth, when a leadoff homer from Haley Stevenson and a JSU error tied the game at 2-2.
McGuire didn't let the game stay tied for long. The Glencoe native followed a one-out double from Emily Woodruff with her blast to left center that gave JSU the lead for good.
NSU plated one in the seventh, but Gillespie stranded the tying run at third to earn the win. The Pelham native improved to 2-1 by holding NSU to three runs, one earned, on seven hits in seven innings of work. She struck out two and walked one.
Megan Landry was tagged with the loss for NSU after allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits in six innings of work. She fanned five and walked one.
The Gamecocks return to action on Saturday with a 3 p.m. meeting with host Southern Miss. They will then wrap up the weekend with a 6 p.m. rematch with MVSU.
MOREHEAD STATE 4, BUFFALO 0
HAMMOND, La. - Junior Chelsea McManaway struck out 14 batters en route to her second consecutive shutout as Morehead State softball downed Buffalo, 4-0, on Friday afternoon.
The victory moves the Eagles' early season record to 3-2.
All of Morehead State's offensive damage came in the third inning.
Freshman Cassie Griffin got the inning started with a double down the left field line. Two batters late, sophomore Allison Rager singled in Griffin and senior Kayla McGuffey, who singled following Griffin. Senior Karly Thompson then singled in Rager and junior Robyn Leighton later scored on an illegal pitch after reaching on a single up the middle.
McManaway kept Buffalo at bay for most of the day. The Bulls did manage to load the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth, but she recorded a strikeout to end the threat.
She went seven innings, allowing three hits and six walks, while striking out 14.
After allowing a single run in her first appearance with the Eagles, McManaway has pitched 19 straight scoreless innings.
Morehead State managed nine hits, all singles except for Griffin's double to lead off the third.
Rager went 3-for-3 with two runs batted in and run scored, while McGuffey went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
The second game against Middle Tennessee was called due to rain in the second inning and will not be made up.
The Eagles return to action tomorrow when they face Alcorn State at 6 p.m. ET. They then close the tournament on Sunday when they face UT Arlington at 10 a.m. ET and host Southeastern Louisiana at 12 p.m. ET.
WINTHROP 5, EASTERN KENTUCKY 2; COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 5, EASTERN KENTUCKY 1
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team dropped its first two games of the season with losses to Winthrop University and the College of Charleston Friday on the opening day of the Wyndham Garden Cougar Classic.
Eastern Kentucky (0-2, 0-0) fell to Winthrop, 5-2, and fell to Charleston, 5-1.
The Colonels struck first in Friday’s opener, taking a 2-0 in the home half of the first. Sophomore Rachel Mingoue dropped an RBI single to left, scoring Krislyn Campos. Freshman Ashton Martin stepped to the plate and drove a long fly ball to right, as freshman Mia Sanchez crossed the plate for the first time as a Colonel.
The two-run inning would be the only for the contest for EKU. The Eagles, however, closed in on Colonels’ lead with a lone run in the fourth, before plating four runs in the top half of the sixth on their way to the win.
In Friday’s game two, the Colonels fell behind 2-0 after the Cougars were able to get across the plate in the opening inning.
After a leadoff double to center from Minogue, a Charleston throwing error sent Minogue around the diamond, scoring her first run of the season and cutting the lead to 2-1.
However, a three run third for the Cougars helped Charleston clinch the win.
Minogue led the Colonels on opening day, going 3-for-4 on the day and one RBI.
Senior Alex Sallberg and freshman Mollie Paulick scattered just eight hits on the day and logged eight strikeouts.
Eastern continues play tomorrow, taking on University of Chicago-Illinois and Lipscomb University. Saturday’s first game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. with the first pitch of the second contest slated for a 6 p.m. first pitch.
KENNESAW STATE 3, TENNESSEE TECH 0; TENNESSEE TECH 7, CHATTANOOGA 6
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Gabby LaSala hit two home runs, driving in four runs as the Tennessee Tech softball team picked up its first win of the season, knocking off host Chattanooga in the Chattanooga Challenge sponsored by Ruby Falls on Friday.
The Golden Eagles (1-6) dropped the earlier game, a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Kennesaw State.
But in the nightcap, Tech's offense came though. Bolstered by LaSala's effort, the Golden Eagles were able to collect seven runs on 11 hits, including three home runs – the other one off the bat of Kelly Kennedy.
Gabby Perez also had a solid night at the plate in the game, going 3-for-4, while Hallie Davis, LaSala and Kennedy each had two safeties.
The offense allowed Taylor Waldrop (1-1) to pick up her first win of the season in the circle as she worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs – three earned – on six hits as she walked one and struck out two. Leigh Ellen Thomas pitched the final 2 2/3 frames in relief, allowing two runs on three hits.
Aly Walker drove in three runs for Chattanooga (3-4) as she was 2-for-4 from the plate.
Alex Connell took the loss, allowing five runs – four earned – in 2 2/3 innings as she walked two and struck out one.
The Golden Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Perez scored on a Davis double to left. Chattanooga took the advantage with a two-run bottom of the second.
Tech, however, countered in the top of the third with a four-run inning. Jessie Lowery, after stealing third, came home on a throwing error, then LaSala hit a two-run shot, followed by a solo homer for Kennedy.
The Golden Eagles added two more runs in the fifth as LaSala homered again, bringing Davis around to score as well.
Against Kennesaw State, the Golden Eagles were held to two hits with Kennedy and Perez reaching safely.
Danielle Liberatore (0-3) took the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits in six innings of work. She walked none and struck out four.
Logan Viers (W, 3-1) was credited with the win, striking out six in the effort.
Tech returns to action on Saturday as it takes on Radford at 12:30 p.m., followed by a contest against UConn at 3 p.m.
AUBURN 8, SIUE 1; SIUE 6, EVANSVILLE 1
AUBURN, Ala. - Zoe Schafer and Haley Chambers-Book each had two RBIs as SIUE softball defeated Evansville 6-1 on the opening day of the Plainsman Invitational.
The Cougars are now 6-2 overall after dropping the early game of the day to No. 2-ranked Auburn 8-1.
SIUE returns to action Saturday morning at 10:30 against Mercer.
Chambers improved to 4-1 with a 14-strikeout effort. The senior already has three starts with more than 10 strikeouts this season.
Evansville struggled defensively with six errors, but it was the Cougar offense that took charge with nine hits overall, including two each from Chambers-Book, Schafer, Reagan Curtis and Conner Cutright.
SIUE took the lead for good in the third inning against Evansville with back-to-back RBIs from Allison Smiley and Schafer.
Schafer picked up her second RBI of the game with a single to left in the fifth inning. Curtis added an RBI double down the left field line in the sixth. Chambers-Book provided insurance with a two-run single in the seventh.
Against Auburn, the Tigers used a pair of big innings to push past the Cougars. Auburn didn't score until the third inning yet rallied for four runs.
Emily Ingles went the distance and yielded eight hits to the defending national runner-up. She is now 1-1.
Chambers-Book provided the Cougars' lone RBI in the sixth.
Schafer said that the Cougars played well in getting back on the winning track.